Jan 9, 2015 | Blog, Chai Latte, January 2015
For fans of Women’s Fiction and Fiction books in general, I have exciting news! I am adding a new post to my Blog, Chai Latte.
Chai Latte will provide you with a little warmth and comfort to feed your soul! Sometimes there will be a sweet and happy ending in the book I’ve reviewed, while at times there will be those that will force you to grab a tissue to soak up those unexpected tears. The purpose of my Blog is to bring you Books that I Love A Latte while reaching as many readers as possible. While many of these books will be Romance, I also read widely in general fiction and want to share those with you as well.
As always, I don’t rate my reviews as I only post books that I feel are “must reads.” While the subject matter of these books will vary from stories about cancer, the holocaust, dysfunctional families, and even grand worldly adventures, hopefully they will tug at your heart and leave you changed. No matter what, you will be affected after finishing one of these books. If some of these books don’t move you then by all means we can have a great discussion and that would be delightful!
When I decided to add this post category it was because I thought everyone could benefit from reading outside their usual repertoire. I will strive to bring you what I feel is the best in both new and best seller general fiction titles. Most of these reviews will be for current and newly released titles but, there also might be ones you’ve missed.
I’ve selected my first book and will post my review tomorrow.
Jan 9, 2015 | Blog, January 2015
Thank you to everyone who commented during my Coffee With Shana Galen, so many fabulous responses! Reading all of your answers of where you’d go if you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world were fantastic.
One lucky winner was selected randomly and (drum roll please)
Congratulations Gabrielle Saunders – please send an e-mail to [email protected] and let me know what format you’d
like (Kindle, Nook, Kobo or Google Play).
Thank you to Shana Galen for the e-book and to everyone that stopped by!
Don’t forget to Follow here on the blog (button at the top right corner) and on Twitter @RaeLatte so you never miss a post or contest!
Jan 8, 2015 | Blog, Coffee With, January 2015
First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte 🙂
What would you order? Ooh, I do love a good latte, but I’d probably get a plain old coffee with cream and sugar. I’m a creature of habit.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions. What made you decide to write a story about a Breast Cancer survivor who is dealt the ultimate discovery when everything she wants is in her reach? I really wanted to explore what happens in a young, heady relationship when one person gets that devastating diagnosis — that they’re not going to be able to live the happily ever after. I suppose that sounds morbid, but I wanted to rise to the challenge of writing about a depressing topic, without making it too maudlin. It was important to me to be able to find the funny — even in such a dire situation.
For many readers this is a subject matter that’s very close to their heart via a friend or family member who’s is currently battling breast cancer (or any cancer). Sometimes those strong and courageous people pass away from that long and challenging fight. If those readers, the ones who were so closely affected decide to pick up this book, what do you hope they get out of it? What about the people who have never personally experienced a friend or family member battle cancer? My greatest hope for both people who have dealt with cancer and those who haven’t is that they have an emotional connection to the book. My favorite novels are the ones that make me feel— the ones that make me cry, laugh, even scream in frustration at the characters’ choices. I would love for others to have the same experience with my book.
I admire you for tackling such a sensitive subject matter and look forward to posting my review this Saturday on my Blog.
8 Tantalizing Tidbits
1. A Must read book and why? Where’d You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple It’s brilliantly funny, and who doesn’t like to laugh?
2.What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown? The Georgia Aquarium. Try to ignore the poorly placed seafood restaurant across the street, though (somebody did not think that through).
3. What is your favorite movie of all time and why?Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The genius concept, the acting, all the feels. It is everything a movie should be.
4. What was on your playlist while writing “Before I Go?” A lot of Mumford & Sons, Ray LaMontagne, Maxwell, The Lumieers, The Counting Crows, and Bruce Springsteen.
5. What’s your guilty pleasure? Gorging on moose tracks ice cream while watching The Biggest Loser.
6. First concert you attended? Hootie and the Blowfish
7. What are you afraid of? The usual heights. Snakes. That I have something in my teeth when I’m talking to someone.
Thank you so much for hanging out with me and have a great tour! Thank you!
BIO:
Colleen Oakley’s articles, essays, and interviews have been featured in The New York Times, Ladies’ Home Journal, Marie Claire, Women’s Health, Redbook and Martha Stewart Weddings. She’s the former editor-in-chief of Women’s Health & Fitness and senior editor of Marie Claire. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, two painfully cute kids and a huge lapdog named Bailey. Before I Go is her debut novel.
Jan 7, 2015 | Blog, January 2015, Tawny Weber
A SEAL’s Sacrifice by Tawny Weber is a short story packed with super smokin’ hot goodness! Gwen Kirkpatrick can’t stand going out on New Year’s Eve but, for her dear friend’s engagement party, she agrees. It’s a special night for her dear friends Bryanna and Sam! If not for Bryanna’s older brother and boss, Russell, she’d never agree.
While it’s a night of celebration, rumors are circulating regarding Gwen Russell, her date for the evening. Somehow she’s the only one in the dark about her upcoming engagement, and it sends her over the edge. Now, completely frustrated, conflicted and confused she’s not sure who she can talk to anymore. Why tonight? Gwen still wonders on nights like tonight why Noah never fought for both her and his career. Unsure if he would actually show up she pondered if she could forgive him for leaving her behind. How does one just walk away from it all? When Noah shows up at the engagement party, she melts and can feel the electrifying connection as he approaches her. A super sexy encounter in a coat closet leaves a lot to be discussed, but this time Gwen is the one to walk away.
With all the excitement of the night and the New Year fast approaching, decisions need to be made regarding Russell and Noah. There is nothing more exciting than a New Year’s Eve story and decisions. This puts a whole new twist to New Year’s Resolution regarding relationships and life goals. Forced to deal with two men she’s known since childhood makes this more difficult. So, when Gwen forces Noah to be honest with himself, will it be enough?
As always, Tawny Weber delivered a fantastic and super sexy short story of one smokin’ hot SEAL. While I received this ARC from the author for a fair and honest review I would buy it and gift it! This book is seamless and fits it all in a bite size morsel that will leave you begging for the next installment. Who’s story will be next?
BIO:
New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling author of thirty books and counting, Tawny Weber has been writing sassy, sexy romances since her first one hit the shelves in 2007. A fan of Johnny Depp, cupcakes and color coordination, she spends a lot of her time shopping for cute shoes, scrapbooking and hanging out on Facebook.
Readers can check out Tawny’s books at her website, www.tawnyweber.com, or join her Red Hot Readers Club for goodies like free reads, complete first chapter excerpts, recipes, insider story info and much more.
You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.
Website: tawnyweber.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TawnyWeber.RomanceAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TawnyWeber
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tawnyweber/
Jan 6, 2015 | Blog, Coffee With, January 2015
First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte 🙂 What would you order? I almost always order a grande soy no water chai. The no water makes it extra yummy!
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions. I’m a HUGE fan of your books. Your Christmas With the Duke’s Arms was published in October and is a collection of stories from four talented and amazing writers. What was it like to put this book together and what was the most challenging part of writing this Christmas book? I know this one was on many holiday wish lists including my own!
It was actually really fun working with Miranda, Grace, and Carolyn to put the book together. I’m so used to working in isolation that it’s a pleasure to brainstorm ideas with other authors, especially writers as clever as they are. The best part for me was that the three of them are all good in areas where I lack knowledge. Carolyn knows so much about formatting and metadata and stuff like that. Grace is really smart about back cover copy and the craft of writing. Miranda is great with the financial stuff.
The challenging part for me was the cover. It was a long, onerous process, and it was tough to get us all to agree on pretty much every aspect of the cover.
Congratulations on your novella that released earlier today – Happy Release Day! I reviewed it yesterday and it was fantastic! (link to review) Your next book in the Covent Garden Cubs Series “Earls Just Want to Have Fun” will be released on February 2nd and I’ll be posting my review of that later this month! I’m impressed, you must write with super power speed!
I don’t write particularly fast, I just don’t sleep a lot.
8 Tantalizing Tidbits
1. A Must read book and why? Enclave by Ann Aguirre. What? Shana Galen is
recommending a dystopian YA? Yep. It’s very historical in tone, and no
one does action and suspense like Aguirre. I learned a lot from reading the
Razorland series, and thoroughly enjoyed myself too!
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown?I live in Houston, and if
you come here, you should see NASA. I recently visited again after not having
gone for more than a decade, and it’s just so fascinating. If I hadn’t been with my
daughter, I could have stayed for hours.
3. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you? I’m a vegetarian and haven’t eaten meat in 28 years.
4. When you are traveling do you prefer to road trip it or fly it? Definitely fly. I don’t like driving or being stuck in the car. I want to get there fast.
5. If you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world for research, where would you go? No brainer. London. I’d stay for six weeks and tour all of the UK. I just
love the UK, and I haven’t been in 15 years.
6. What are you afraid of? Crickets are super icky to me. I don’t like their black bodies
and legs. Surprisingly, spiders don’t bother me much. Those are minor fears,
though. My real and true fear is that something horrible will happen to my
daughter. I think most moms fear for their children’s safety.
7. Organized or Free Floating? So, so organized. I have lists of lists. Nothing makes
me smile like checking something off my to-do list.
8. Do you love to cook or go out to eat? I am the worst cook. It’s because cooking
doesn’t allow for revision. I always mess something crucial up and then I can’t go
back and fix it. I throw a lot out. I like to go out to eat.
Thanks for stopping by Shana! Thanks so much for having me!
***********NOW CLOSED ******* GIVEAWAY***********
Shana Galen is giving away an e-book (Kindle, Nook, Kobo or Google Play) of The Viscount of Vice to one person who comments today. For your chance to win let us know – If you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?
This is one book you will want to have in your e-reader 🙂
BIO:
Shana Galen is the bestselling author of passionate Regency romps, including the RT Reviewers’ Choice The Making of a Gentleman. Kirkus says of her books, “The road to happily-ever-after is intense, conflicted, suspenseful and fun,” and RT Bookreviews calls her books “lighthearted yet poignant, humorous yet touching.” She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston’s inner city. Now she writes full time. She’s happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers, so send her an email or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.
Jan 5, 2015 | Blog, Historical Romance, January 2015
The Viscount of Vice by Shana Galen is a novella filled with adventure, mystery and desire. Lady Emma Talbot has admired Henry Flynn, Lord Chesham for years. However, his reputation precedes him and the “Viscount of Vice” as her older brother knows him as, has forbidden the Lord to even glance at his young sister or face the loss of a body part or two. Nothing thickens the tension more than a threat or two from dear old big brother. While Emma’s big brother misreads the attraction and potential desire between his sister and the racy Lord he has no idea the fuse he’s ignited.
Unfortunately, Emma is caught in a very bare and compromising position with the one man whom she thinks has desire for any woman but her. All she professed to want was just one kiss, from Henry. Would that be enough to prove to him that she’s not so young and innocent? Perhaps if he distances himself from her she will find someone more worthy of her that doesn’t have such a tarnished reputation.
However, it seems that they are once again thrown together, this time it’s regarding a recent development in the status of Henry’s missing brother. News that he might actually be alive, and nearby, complicates everything as Henry soon discovers the truth around his brother’s disappearance all those years ago. For Henry, he’s so haunted by that horrible day that he still can’t move past how his parents have treated him, as if it was his fault.
So, when Emma is kidnapped as a result of a case of mistaken identity, Henry is forced to face the situation and come to her rescue. Will he be able to save those he loves before everything is gone forever? What will happen when he hears her profess her love towards him? Will it matter?
Shana Galen has once again delivered a seamless story with a fantastic plot, juicy mystery and that added “zing” that we expect. While I received this ARC for a fair and honest review, I would buy this or gift it as well! If you’ve never read Shana Galen she’s a fantastic writer who has plenty of stories to fill your e-reader. Happy Reading Dear Readers!
BIO:
Shana Galen is the bestselling author of passionate Regency romps, including the RT Reviewers’ Choice The Making of a Gentleman. Kirkus says of her books, “The road to happily-ever-after is intense, conflicted, suspenseful and fun,” and RT Bookreviews calls her books “lighthearted yet poignant, humorous yet touching.” She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston’s inner city. Now she writes full time. She’s happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers, so send her an email or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.
